Southeastern Sexually Transmitted Infections Cooperative Research Center

这是性传播感染合作研究中心（STI ORG）的竞争性更新。东南地区性传播疾病组织由六个项目组成，其中包括对性传播病原体淋病奈瑟菌和杜克雷嗜血杆菌的研究。五个协同项目探索淋病的分子发病机制、免疫生物学和可能的淋病疫苗，第六个项目侧重于开发一种有前景的杜克雷伊嗜血杆菌疫苗。这六个项目由行政核心、微生物核心和免疫学核心提供支持。项目1采用小鼠淋球菌感染模型研究粘膜候选疫苗。项目2重点研究淋病奈瑟菌铁调控的粘附因子。项目3涉及淋球菌对先天免疫介质耐药的遗传机制。项目4旨在通过靶向粘附因子PilG来预防淋球菌感染。项目5的中心是先天宿主对淋球菌感染的免疫反应。项目6的重点是利用猪感染模型研究杜氏嗜血杆菌外膜蛋白DsrA作为软下疳疫苗。微生物学中心将进行人类淋球菌感染实验，以支持项目2-5。免疫学核心为小鼠淋球菌研究和猪软下疳研究提供粘膜佐剂和免疫方案方面的专业知识，并使用动物和人类标本进行复杂的免疫监测。将这些项目和核心联系起来的总体主题是预防性传播感染的新方法。

This is a competing renewal for a Sexually Transmitted Infections Cooperative Research Center (STI ORG). The Southeastern STI ORG is comprised of six projects Including studies on the sexually transmitted pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus ducreyi. Five synergistic projects explore molecular pathogenesis, immunobiology and possible vaccines for gonorrhea, and the sixth project focuses on development of a promising vaccine for H. ducreyi. The six projects are supported by an Administrative Core, a Microbiology Core and an Immunology Core. Project 1 uses the murine model of gonococcal infection to study mucosal vaccine candidates. Project 2 focuses on iron-regulated adherence factors of N. gonorrhoeae. Project 3 deals with genetic mechanisms of gonococcal resistance to mediators of innate immunity. Project 4 aims at preventing gonococcal infection by targeting the adherence factor PilG. Project 5 centers on innate host immune responses to gonococcal infection. Project 6 focuses on the H. ducreyi outer membrane protein DsrA as a chancroid vaccine using a swine model of infection. The Microbiology Core will conduct experimental human gonococcal infection experiments in support of Projects 2-5. The Immunology Core provides expertise In mucosal adjuvants and immunization protocols for gonococcal studies in mice and chancroid studies in pigs and sophisticated immune monitoring using specimens from animals and humans. The overall theme uniting these projects and cores is New Approaches to STI Prevention.